Louisiana Tech University’s Enterprise Center has been awarded a three-year $350,000 grant from the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) to continue its mission of promoting economic growth throughout north Louisiana. The EDA grant was awarded through the University Center Economic Development Program, which is a partnership between the Federal government and academia that helps to make the varied and vast resources of universities available to economic development communities. “The Economic Development Administration has been a valuable partner in the growth of our innovation and business development activities at Louisiana Tech,” said Dr. Dave Norris, director of Louisiana Tech’s Enterprise Center. “This investment in the Enterprise Center will allow us to enhance and expand our economic development activities for the benefit of Ruston and all of north Louisiana.” The Enterprise Center is Louisiana Tech’s lead external business support and development unit. All activities of the Enterprise Center are closely coordinated with the University’s other economic development activities as well as external partners public and private. As a result of the grant, Louisiana Tech will have new opportunities to promote economic growth and business development throughout the region through the use of technical assistance, applied research and information dissemination. The Enterprise Center focuses primarily on supporting the creation and growth of technology-based companies, particularly those linked to the University’s technology commercialization activities in nano-tech, bio-tech, alternative energy, information technology, and trenchless technology, and providing assistance to existing companies and communities on job growth and business expansion.